Saphos Trains 2026

Yesterday i was originally just going to go to Hellifield to see Blue Peter
pass, but due to weather forecast of heavy rail in decided to head to
Carlisle, (which as it happened was a good choice as i have seen videos of
it pouring with rain at Hellifield in the morning) All images at:
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2026/June-2026/Carlisle/i-8rS4vLs

 

I definitely escaped the worst of the day's rain with my morning trip. It looked horrendous, my thanks and admiration to John, Shep and Nige for braving the elements and posting some excellent images, despite the conditions. In the past I have ventured out in similar conditions and I do have some great all weather clothing, in dayglow yellow (courtesy of my former employer) - appearances in your photos can be arranged. I used to get paid when I wore it but now I don't and, as I have grown older I have lost the will to wear it. Oswald has joined the ranks of the "soft lads."

So with a decidedly dodgy forecast for the return trip I decided to take out some insurance - Mrs W would accompany me. In all the times she has come along as a brolly carrier (amongst other things) she is proud to say that she has only had to put the brolly up ONCE! Would her luck hold. The afternoon was a mixture of sunny spells and torrential showers. The evening was forecast to be rain, heavy at times with a chance of thunder - oh joy!

It was dull but dry when we left home and headed for R&W. The sky in the direction we were heading was darker, the clouds were heavier - oh dear! We parked and a check on RTT showed that 60532 had left Hellifield (6L) but was not yet shown as arriving at Clitheroe, it was an easy booking and there should be no problem regaining time with a booked 12 min stop in Clitheroe.

As it was dry we decided to head to the station, "Oswald's corner" was vacant, as was the rest of the station. We set up and waited. Before long we were joined by three youngsters, all with camera phones and tripods. Their enthusiasm knew no bounds as they chattered away with endless adjustments to tripods and phones. Steam, diesel anything on rails was a source of excitement. Their mastery of technology was mind blowing as they zipped from screen to scree on phones still mounted on tripods; dictate a text to a mate on Langho station, check the gradient on the ELR at Bury, all no problem. This is the future, these are the young men who will sustain the rail enthusiast movement and I wish them every success.

Back to business 60532 (1Z47) had left Clitheroe at 19.30 (5E) and was booked to follow 2J27 (The Rochdale Flyer). Now here was something that was never going to work 1Z37 was booked to pass Whalley at 19.40 but couldn't until 2J27 had cleared the section at Daisyfield Jn; booked for 19.44. 2J27 had left R&W RT but was held at Daisyfield Jn because of the late running York-Blackpool N service (27L at Daisyfield). It was 19.51 when 2J27 passed Daisyfield Jn and 1Z47 could enter the section at Whalley. We waited and waited, eventually "word came through" that 60532 had passed Langho.

Next came a distant chime whistle (Wilpshire Tunnel?) and finally some exhaust appeared around the bend by the former Wilpshire station. A blast on the "big" whistle as Blue Peter approached the station, plenty of healthy noise from the chimney, moving at pace, another delightful pull on the chime as 60532 hurried through the platforms. The coaches whizzed by, lights shining on a dark evening. 57302 on the rear was making some noise, but how much it had contributed to the climb remains a big unknown. It was 20.11 when 60532 passed through the station, despite a longer than planned wait it had been well worth it. Apart from a few drops, the rain held off - Mrs W had worked her magic again.

13C, 17L & 37mph

 

I know that you are spot on, Danny. It always seems, year on year, whichever specific day had been selected to run a mid-week trip over the S&C, no matter how warm, dry and sunny the weather might have been, a cool day with wind and rain was an almost certainty. But maybe one day - soon . . .
Sorry to hear that you missed the outbound leg, the weather did improve for the return so maybe you got a chance to see the A2 and without getting wet.

 

Appreciate your comment Young Whistle, nearly dried out!!

 

You’re more than welcome.

 

Looked and sounded good. Presumably Maisie stayed tucked up in the warm and dry back at Wistle Towers?

Bryan

 

I think that your afternoon photo at Sheriff Brow and your subsequent comment that, the EA website showed that at Settle the river rose by almost 3ft in 4 hours, is testament to the intensity of the morning's rain. Well done for braving the elements, it sounded horrendous at HinR.

 

Thanks for asking, to avoid upsetting the FPF (Forum Police Force) Maisie has replied elsewhere.
www.national-preservation.com/threads/cat-matters.1424568/page-4#post-2936496

 

Oh David, that is so very sad. Cats are an integral part of your very readable reports, hopefully Maisie will still jump on your keyboard on this part of the forum from time to time.

But at least Maisie has somewhere else here now.

Bryan

 

Cowperthwaite, near Lowgill with today's private charter,


Blue Peter at Cowperthwaite

 

60532 at Forton on a Private Charter

 

LNER Peppercorn A2 class No. 60532 'Blue Peter' works a private chater 1Z33 through Greenholme towards Shap summit and on to Penrith



No. 60532 'Blue Peter' working the return LSL private charter from Langwathby towards Aisgill summit and back to Crewe

 

Sadly, I was elsewhere than Cumbria/North Yorkshire today, but I did manage to grab a couple of shots of the private charter at Helsby this evening as it was returning to Chester.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/55323166423/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/55323006171/in/photostream/

 

Really love the Aisgill shot. Great viewpoint and composition.

 

Me too !. I wish the light we had a few minutes before the train arrived had lasted.

 

The heavy overnight rain (hopefully meant no fire risk?! - but who knows) petered out by mid-morning and the afternoon became sunny. I was unable to watch the morning train head north on the WCML so watching the return was essential.

The easy option was "Oswald's Corner" on R&W station but by 7pm (when the train was due) the sun, even if shining, would be blocked by the lineside trees. Langho would be the best spot for light but there is only one good spot, the north end of the down platform; anywhere else on the platform risked being blocked by the service train which had a booked stop 3 mins before 60532 was due to pass. My final option was Cherry Tree, the sun would be in a good position, there were no conflicting trains and BP would be accelerating away from Blackburn, but it would not be working as hard as on Wilpshire - Oswald does like plenty of noise!

So R&W it was going to be, but for a bit of variety something from the north end of the platform where the sun sneaks through gaps in the trees. Next, would Mrs W be coming along, making a two camera setup easier. She had planned to go and watch the nearby barn owls but would tag along, if required. Sometimes it is better to "bank a bit of goodwill" and that is what we did; Mrs W on owl watch, Oswald on puffer train watch and Oswald Jnr on Maisie watch - what a versatile family we are.

As I loaded my cameras into the car Maisie sprinted into the house and when I returned inside to collect my other bits and pieces she sprinted out again. It was a nice evening and the drive to R&W was uneventful. However, the long sunny intervals became short sunny intervals - still time for the cloud to clear, or not.

After parking a quick check on RTT showed 60532 RT and the service trains RT. But, as I headed to the station the cloud thickened and the sun was gone. I waited a couple of minutes to see if it would clear, it didn't. With no sun I decided to set up at the north end of the "tight side" platform, where you can see a little further around the curve at the former Wilpshire station. Having prepared, as if to taunt me, the sun appeared, but its appearance was short lived. The Rochdale Flyer stopped in the station (RT) and, all things being equal, should clear Daisyfield Jn RT so allowing BP to leave Whalley; BP had already left Clitheroe (RT). The Clitheroe bound train appeared, stopped and left (1L) - it was going to be tight at Langho. [Indeed it was, the service train left Langho 2L and can be seen heading off into the distance in Steve Thompson's excellent video on YouTube.]

Blue Peter was due at 18.58 but could easily be a couple of minutes early, I wandered back to my camera. There was the distant sound of the chime whistle, then silence. The seconds ticked by before the sound of BP could be heard, the 3 cylinder beat growing louder. Some white exhaust in the trees as 60532 came into view, the swirling, swishing noise from the chimney growing louder and louder. The exhaust lifting well, the sound rising to a crescendo, a blast from the big whistle - wonderful. Oswald waved to the driver, a benefit of the tight side, and got a wave in return - thanks! Blue Peter looked immaculate, the smoke box door was gleaming. The coaches passed by and finally the 47 on the back, sounding like a well behaved diesel should. 13C, RT & 31mph - what a treat!

After a chat with some friends who were on the opposite platform I made my way home. Maisie was outside but came in with me and promptly jumped up onto the sofa , curled up and fell asleep - in Mrs W's spot. She must have got too warm, as a few minutes before Mrs W returned from her owl watching, she jumped down and stretched out on the floor and fell back to sleep. Mrs W had had a great time, 3 barn owls all hunting and all seen carrying their catches back to their nests. Oswald had a great time watching BP, Oswald Jnr was left to his own devices and Maisie played out. Everyone a winner!

 

Saphos have announced 5 Christmas charters for this year. <BJ>

THE BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET EXPRESS (limited availability)
Fri 4 December 2026
Departing From: Three Bridges, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Hove, Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing, Barnham, Chichester. Journey Destination: Bath Spa

THE BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET EXPRESS
Fri 11 December 2026
Departing From: Peterborough, March, Ely, Cambridge, Royston, Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City. Journey Destination: Bath Spa

THE PENNINE PEAKS CHRISTMAS EXPLORER
Thu 17 December 2026
Departing From: Rugby, Coventry, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Penkridge, Stafford, Crewe

THE PENNINE MOORS CHRISTMAS EXPRESS
Mon 21 December 2026
Departing From: Leicester, Narborough, Hinckley, Nuneaton, Tamworth, Lichfield Trent Valley, Rugeley Trent Valley, Crewe

THE PENNINE PEAKS CHRISTMAS EXPLORER
Wed 23 December 2026
Departing From: Bangor, Llandudno Junction, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Flint, Chester, Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay

 

They've been there for several weeks already. I booked on The Pennine Peaks Christmas Explorer back on 7th April.

 

Looks like the William Shakespeare Express has been cancelled. Isn't showing on Saphos' website and they don't usually pull trips off the site, even if it sells out.